Digestive symptoms can sometimes reflect more than what is happening in the stomach or intestines alone. At Needles, Herbs & Labs, Dr. Naylous may use comprehensive stool testing from Genova Diagnostics to evaluate several aspects of gastrointestinal health at the same time, including digestion and absorption, intestinal inflammation, immune activity, microbial balance, and the gut microbiome.

One of the primary tests used is the GI Effects® Comprehensive Profile, which is designed to provide a broad assessment of gastrointestinal function. It can offer additional information that may help explain persistent digestive symptoms and guide a more individualized approach to care.
 
Looking Beyond Digestive Symptoms

Bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, irregular bowel movements, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and food-related symptoms can have many possible contributors. Rather than assuming that every digestive complaint has the same cause, comprehensive stool testing can help provide a more detailed picture of what may be happening within the digestive system.

The goal is not simply to look for one bacteria or one isolated finding. Instead, stool testing can help evaluate multiple aspects of gastrointestinal health together and identify patterns that may deserve closer attention.
 
What Stool Testing May Evaluate

Depending on the test ordered, Genova Diagnostics stool testing may evaluate areas such as:

• Digestion and absorption

• Pancreatic digestive function

• Fat digestion

• Intestinal inflammation

• Gut immune activity

• Short-chain fatty acids and microbial metabolites

• Beneficial and commensal bacteria

• Microbiome balance and dysbiosis

• Potential pathogenic bacteria and yeast

• Parasites

• Other markers related to gastrointestinal function

By looking at several of these areas together, the results may provide a more complete view of digestive health than symptoms alone.
 
Connecting the Results Back to Your Symptoms

A stool test is most useful when it is interpreted alongside the rest of your health picture. Dr. Naylous reviews the findings together with your symptoms, health history, diet, medications, supplements, lifestyle, previous testing, and other relevant information.

For example, digestive complaints may be considered alongside findings related to digestive enzyme function, inflammation, microbiome patterns, or microbial metabolites. The purpose is to use the results as one piece of a larger clinical picture rather than treating the laboratory report in isolation.
 
Who May Benefit From Stool Testing?

Comprehensive stool testing may be considered for patients experiencing concerns such as:

• Persistent bloating or gas

• Abdominal discomfort

• Diarrhea or constipation

• Irregular bowel movements

• Changes in stool quality

• Nausea or digestive discomfort after eating

• Food-related digestive symptoms

• Ongoing gastrointestinal concerns

• Concerns about gut microbiome balance

• Unexplained or persistent digestive symptoms

Not every patient with digestive symptoms requires comprehensive stool testing. Dr. Naylous determines whether testing may be appropriate based on the individual clinical picture.
 
How It Works

After your consultation, Dr. Naylous will determine whether Genova Diagnostics stool testing is appropriate for your needs and place the test order.

The test is completed using a stool sample collected at home. You will receive a collection kit with instructions for completing and returning the sample to Genova Diagnostics for analysis.

Once the results are available, Dr. Naylous reviews the report in detail and discusses the findings with you during a follow-up consultation. Recommendations may then be individualized based on your results, symptoms, and overall health picture and may include nutrition, lifestyle strategies, targeted supplementation, Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, or additional evaluation when appropriate.
 
A More Individualized Look at Gut Health

The purpose of comprehensive digestive testing is not simply to label a patient with a gut problem. It is to gather more information about how the digestive system is functioning and use those findings alongside the patient’s overall clinical picture.

At Needles, Herbs & Labs, Genova Diagnostics stool testing is one of the tools Dr. Naylous may use to help connect the dots between digestive symptoms, nutrition, microbial patterns, inflammation, and other factors that may be contributing to how a patient feels.